Mirabeau B. Lamar, Albert Sidney Johnston, and Thomas Jefferson Rusk called him friend and colleague. Sam Houston considered him his greatest political nemesis next to David Burnet. He was the most popular public speaker of his day. Hugh McLeod served in the Republic of Texas legislature, organized the office of Adjutant General, and held officer commissions in four armies over his lifetime. He fought at the Battle of the Neches, wrote the official report of the Council House Fight, helped spur Galveston's growth into a city, and at the time of his death was next in line to command the Confederate regiment that became known as Hood's Brigade.. "Paul N. Spellman illuminates the overlooked events in the life of Hugh McLeod, whom history has ignored except ignominiously as "the commander of the failed Santa Fe expedition." In this comprehensive retelling of the 1841 expedition, Spellman reminds history readers that the failure of that venture was caused by many factors, including McLeod's uneven leadership, but that the personable general went on to live an active life in service to Texas and the causes in which he fervently believed.